Tag Archives: devotion

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord.” – 2 Kings 3:16-18

Have you been praying for something and you feel like nothing is happening? When I read those verses in 2 Kings, I can’t help but be ashamed of how demanding I can get with God. Especially this verse- “And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord”.

As I was reflecting on those verses, I was so reminded of how naive I could get on how God works. Especially when the season of waiting is getting longer. We start to question if God really hears us or if He even is really doing something.

To give you a background of those verses… During the old times of Israel, the king of Israel, Judah and Edom were going to a battle against the Moabites. On their journey, they ran out of water for their army and for their animals and so the king of Judah looked for a prophet to inquire the Lord. And so Elisha spoke to them those very words from the Lord.

There was only one thing that God asked them to do. To fill the valley where they were at with ditches. How hard could that be right? But then, the follow up was that they will never see rain or wind to fill those ditches with water. Do you think that makes sense? If there’s no rain, then how could they have water?

There are times in our life that God would ask us to step out in faith even if it doesn’t really make sense for us. And most of the time, we would always question God’s ways. If there is no rain coming, will you ever dig a hole?

But that’s how God works. Most of the time, He works behind the scene. We don’t see how He orchestrates things. We will not see how He will fill the ditch with water. We will just see the water, that’s all. That’s why He asked us to live by faith and not by sight.

And indeed, God fulfilled His promise. Everyone got provided with water. If they did not make a ditch, they will never have water. Is there anything in your life right now that God is asking you to take a leap of faith?

The most assuring thing in those verses did not just end with His promise. He ended it with the words most of us would always forget. IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER! We forget that we serve and worship a powerful God. The One who created the whole universe. We forget that we seek a sovereign God. And in Him, nothing is impossible.

I hope those verses will encourage you to take a leap of faith in Jesus and to trust and wait on God’s behind the scene plan and timing based not on your own confidence or faith, but based on God’s character and of who He is in your life.

Howblessed is the man who has made theLordhis trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

Reflection:

Knowing God

God blesses the man who trusts in Him and who does not turn to the proud and those who lapse into falsehood

Many are God’s wonderful works and thoughts toward us, too numerous to count

God is incomparable

When you have trials in life, to whom do you first turn to?

Before I had a deep relationship with God, I always turn to my friends first whenever I have problems. I don’t even go to my family. And when I remember God, that’s only when I pray. However, this has changed when I realized that God is the only one who could sustain me in the midst of my problems.

Now, I always turn to God first and just pour out unto Him all my concerns. When we start trusting God, knowing that He is in control of everything, we will have peace, stillness and joy that we can’t explain. These are the blessings we can receive from God even if we are flooded with problems.

Then, I turn to the people whom God uses to help me in my problems. When we turn to people, let’s make sure that they will impart to us wisdom that comes from the Lord and not from the standard of the world (Andhas notturned to the proud, nor to those wholapse into falsehood.) It’s important that we pray to God to give us people who could give us godly counsel. I realized how blessed I am to be a part of a community of believers because there are people who will not just give me counsel but will also pray for me.

Have you been trusting God not just with your problems but with your whole life? Only God can understand the very depth of your heart. He will be pleased that you run to Him first. And if you feel like you don’t have anyone to turn to, always remember that God is just waiting for you. He hears you. And He will speak to you through the Bible. In the Bible, you will see how God has heard the cry of a lot of people and how He has helped them during difficult times. He will also do the same for you as long as you trust Him.

If you haven’t called to God, maybe, it’s time you call upon Him. Let this prayer guide you.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for always thinking about me even if I fail to remember you. Today, I commit that I will always run to you first – in my victories and trials. Thank you for the promise of blessings for those who trust in you. Teach me Lord to trust you always that I may walk not in the ways of this world but in Your ways. This I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Iwaitedpatiently for theLord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.He brought me up out of thepit of destruction, out of themiry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.He put anew song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.

Reflection:

David waited patiently, calling out to God.

God did the following for David:

Turned to David

Heard David’s cry

Lifted David out of the pit of destruction and of the miry clay

Set David’s feet on the rock that he may stand firm

David’s response to God:

God put a new song on his mouth, a hymn of praise to God

David proclaimed – many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord

I’m so much grateful that God does not change. How He loved and protected David, He does the same for all of us. David must be very troubled as he wrote this psalm. As he described his situation, he was in a pit of destruction, crying out to God for help.

Indeed, everyone – a king or a commoner has his own problems. No one is excused in living a life full of trials and problems. However, David has a big God. He turned to God alone to seek refuge. He described how God lifted him up from that pit and put him on a rock that he could stand firm again. And God does this to everyone who calls on Him. There was never a time that God failed me every time I’m so down and hopeless. He is the only one who could take me out from that pit, gives me strength to get up and go on with life. And just like David, the only response I could make is to be in awe of God, to give praises to Him even if the times were difficult.

Have you ever experienced God this way? Have you allowed God to help you not just in times of trouble but in everything that you do? Have you entrusted God with every step of your life? Always remember, God hears you. You just need to call unto Him and He will turn to you.

If you are in a difficult situation right now, you can say this prayer to God.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for showing to me the life of David; that, even a king does not have a perfect life. Thank you for reminding me that I can entrust my life to you and I can call upon you on any situation of my life. I ask for your strength dear God that I may overcome all the trials in my life. Help me to see you always that I may put my trust in you alone. This I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Song:

I hope this song will bring you encouragement and be reminded of who God is.